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The Cranes Are Flying

Original title: Letyat zhuravli
  • 19571957
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 1h 35m
IMDb RATING
8.3/10
17K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Letyat zhuravli (1957)
  • Drama
  • Romance
  • War
Veronica plans a rendezvous with her lover, Boris, at the bank of river, only for him to be drafted into World War II shortly thereafter.Veronica plans a rendezvous with her lover, Boris, at the bank of river, only for him to be drafted into World War II shortly thereafter.Veronica plans a rendezvous with her lover, Boris, at the bank of river, only for him to be drafted into World War II shortly thereafter.
IMDb RATING
8.3/10
17K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Mikhail Kalatozov
  • Writer
    • Viktor Rozov(play "Vecno zivye")
  • Stars
    • Tatyana Samoylova
    • Aleksey Batalov
    • Vasiliy Merkurev
Top credits
  • Director
    • Mikhail Kalatozov
  • Writer
    • Viktor Rozov(play "Vecno zivye")
  • Stars
    • Tatyana Samoylova
    • Aleksey Batalov
    • Vasiliy Merkurev
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 87User reviews
    • 68Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 2 BAFTA Awards
      • 6 wins & 4 nominations total

    Photos118

    Tatyana Samoylova in Letyat zhuravli (1957)
    Aleksey Batalov and Tatyana Samoylova in Letyat zhuravli (1957)
    Letyat zhuravli (1957)
    Letyat zhuravli (1957)
    Tatyana Samoylova and Aleksandr Shvorin in Letyat zhuravli (1957)
    Aleksey Batalov and Tatyana Samoylova in Letyat zhuravli (1957)
    Tatyana Samoylova in Letyat zhuravli (1957)
    Tatyana Samoylova in Letyat zhuravli (1957)
    Aleksey Batalov and Tatyana Samoylova in Letyat zhuravli (1957)
    Aleksey Batalov in Letyat zhuravli (1957)
    Antonina Bogdanova, Svetlana Kharitonova, Vasiliy Merkurev, and Aleksandr Shvorin in Letyat zhuravli (1957)
    Aleksey Batalov and Konstantin Kadochnikov in Letyat zhuravli (1957)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Tatyana Samoylova
    Tatyana Samoylova
    • Veronikaas Veronika
    Aleksey Batalov
    Aleksey Batalov
    • Boris Fyodorovich Borodinas Boris Fyodorovich Borodin
    Vasiliy Merkurev
    Vasiliy Merkurev
    • Fyodor Ivanovich Borozdinas Fyodor Ivanovich Borozdin
    Aleksandr Shvorin
    Aleksandr Shvorin
    • Mark Aleksandrovich Borozdinas Mark Aleksandrovich Borozdin
    Svetlana Kharitonova
    Svetlana Kharitonova
    • Irina Fyodorovna Borozdinaas Irina Fyodorovna Borozdina
    • (as S. Kharitonova)
    Konstantin Kadochnikov
    Konstantin Kadochnikov
    • Volodyaas Volodya
    • (as K. Nikitin)
    Valentin Zubkov
    Valentin Zubkov
    • Stepanas Stepan
    • (as V. Zubkov)
    Antonina Bogdanova
    Antonina Bogdanova
    • Varvara Kapitanova -babushka Borisa i Irinaas Varvara Kapitanova -babushka Borisa i Irina
    • (as A. Bogdanova)
    Boris Kokovkin
    Boris Kokovkin
    • Nikolay Chernovas Nikolay Chernov
    • (as B. Kokovkin)
    Ekaterina Kupriyanova
    • Anna Mikhaylovna Lebedevaas Anna Mikhaylovna Lebedeva
    • (as Ye. Kupriyanova)
    Valentina Ananina
    Valentina Ananina
    • Lyubaas Lyuba
    • (as V. Ananina)
    Valentina Vladimirova
    Valentina Vladimirova
    • Soldatkaas Soldatka
    • (as V. Vladimirova)
    Olga Dzisko
    • Dashaas Dasha
    • (as O. Dzisko)
    Leonid Knyazev
    Leonid Knyazev
    • Sachkovas Sachkov
    • (as L. Knyazev)
    Georgiy Kulikov
    Georgiy Kulikov
    • Anatoliy Kuzminas Anatoliy Kuzmin
    • (as Yu. Kulikov)
    Daniil Netrebin
    Daniil Netrebin
    • Ranenyyas Ranenyy
    • (as D. Netrebin)
    Aleksandr Popov
    • Boryaas Borya
    • (as Sasha Popov)
    Irina Preys
    Irina Preys
    • Antonina Monastyrskayaas Antonina Monastyrskaya
    • (as I. Preys)
    • Director
      • Mikhail Kalatozov
    • Writer
      • Viktor Rozov(play "Vecno zivye") (screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit
    As the clouds of war spread over Russia during Germany's surprise invasion in 1941, the fervent young lovers, the sensitive Veronika and the stalwart Boris, are parted when the patriotic lad secretly volunteers for the war effort. During the following hard years, Veronika who serves her country as a wartime-nurse will lose communication with Boris, moreover, when a devastating air raid destroys her house and Boris' father takes her in to live with the family, unexpectedly, things will take a turn for the worse. Before long, the worried fiancée will find herself dealing not only with the dark thoughts of Boris' potential loss but also with the burden of an unwelcome decision. Once, the star-crossed lovers swore eternal devotion under a flock of flying cranes, still, a war is always cruel and eternally disastrous. —Nick Riganas
    • crane the bird
    • moscow russia
    • loveless marriage
    • missing in action
    • air raid shelter
    • 88 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • So Much to Love - So Little Time
    • Genres
      • Drama
      • Romance
      • War
    • Certificate
      • Not Rated
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      One of the most notable features of the film is cinematographer Sergey Urusevskiy's then ground-breaking use of hand-held cameras. He had learned how to film like this when he was a military cameraman during the war.
    • Quotes

      Stepan: Dear mother, father, sisters and brothers! The happiness of our reunion is immeasurable. The heart of every Soviet citizen is filled with joy. Joy sings in our hearts. It is victory that has brought us this joy. We have all waited for this moment. But we shall not forget those left behind on the battlefield. Time will pass. Towns and villages will be rebuilt. Our wounds will heal. But our fierce hatred of war will never diminish. We share the grief of those who cannot meet their loved ones today, and we will do everything to insure that sweethearts are never again parted by war, that mothers need never again fear for their children's lives, that fathers need never again choke back hidden tears. We have won, and we shall live not to destroy, but to build a new life!

    • Connections
      Edited into Nitrato d'argento (1996)

    User reviews87

    Review
    Top review
    10/10
    Powerful story of the effect of war.
    Sometimes you see a film and it knocks you for six. Sometimes those films are unknown to most people. The Cranes Are Flying is one of those films. Made in Soviet Russia in 1957, the films starts with the romance of Veronika and Boris, a romance that is rudely interrupted when he volunteers to go to the front during WWII. After the lose of her own family, Boris' family invite her to live with them, only for his brother who found exemption from fighting 'forcing' her into marriage. The family are forced to move to Siberia to escape the onslaught of the Germans and it is here Veronika learns the fate of her real love.

    The film's main plot, the love story, is tragic, but the film as a whole is as tragic in it's depiction of war and the immense effect it has on people. Through fine performances the cast bring another episode of war to life, with drama, joy, despair and hope. Director Mikhail Kalatozov achieves something else, a masterpiece of film making. The film contains some of the most remarkable camera work you'll likely to see in a pre-CGI film world. One of the early scenes where Boris runs up flights of stairs as the camera pans and follows in one take is a hint of things to come. That scene is mirrored when Veronika returns to her family apartment to find it bombed and runs up the same stairwell, that hangs among the ruins and fire. There are fine tracking shots, such as where Veronica runs along the dispatch area or when she runs along the train track. Another stand out scene is where Veronica is 'trapped' by the brother during an air raid, the noise loud, the camera angles obscure, the lighting jarred and ominous, it's a powerful moment, among many throughout the film.

    The audience learns the fate of Boris way before Veronica, who tries to hang onto hope that he will return. Her love grows ever more when she discovers the note he left in the toy squirrel. The powerful end scenes, when the truth is revealed are stunningly effective, full of emotion and the horror of what war can create in people.

    War films are often too busy concentrating on the battles itself, but occasionally a film will explore the real battle, the one that humanity has to endure on a personal level.

    More of my reviews at iheartfilms.weebly.com
    helpful•19
    1
    • ihrtfilms
    • Sep 2, 2010

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 21, 1960 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • Soviet Union
    • Official site
      • Mosfilm [rus]
    • Language
      • Russian
    • Also known as
      • Zdralovi lete
    • Filming locations
      • Mosfilm Studios, Moscow, Russia
    • Production company
      • Mosfilm
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $17,923
    • Gross worldwide
      • $17,923
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 35 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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